






/ 
















The impression of this work is very strictly limited to 
twenty-six copies, no additional perfect copy being preserved 
either in the waste or even in proof-sheets. 


December, 1859. 









a &ijoit iMattan 


OF 

A JOURNEY THROUGH WALES, 


MADE, IN THE YEAR 1652, 


/ 

JOHN TAYLOR, THE WATER-POET. 


EDITED BY 

JAMES 0. HALLIWELL, ESQ., F.R.S. 

< 



LONDON: 

PRINTED BY THOMAS RICHARDS, 
27, GEE AT QUEEN STREET. 

1859. 




























PREFACE. 


John Taylor, generally known as the water-poet, was 
perhaps one of the most singular public characters of 
his day. He was born in the city of Gloucester, as he 
himself tells us in the following work, p. 25, 44 where, 
though I was born there, very few did know me.” 
The exact date of his birth has not been ascertained, 
but as he speaks of himself in 1652 as then being in 
the seventy-fourth year of his age, it must have been 
in 1578, or thereabouts. He received a very slight 
education, for, according to his own account, he 
scarcely knew the Latin accidence,— 44 1 do confess I 
do want eloquence, and never yet did learn mine 
accidence”—a statement which would almost imply 
that he had never attended school. He was bound 
apprentice to a waterman in London, and was after¬ 
wards for many years a servant in the Tower. In 


✓ 





VI 


PREFACE. 


1G12, lie commenced his long series of doggerel poems 
with one called, “ Greate Britainc all in Blacke for the 
incomparable loss of Henry, our late worthy prince”; 
and he continued writing incessantly from that period 
until within a few weeks, or perhaps days, of his death. 
He was a staunch royalist, and retired to Oxford at 
the commencement of the civil wars, but on the sur¬ 
render of that city, he returned to London, and set up 
a tavern in Phoenix Alley, leading out of Long Acre. 
After the execution of King Charles, he raised the sign 
of the Mourning Crown, but this not being permitted 
to remain, he removed it, setting up that of the Poet’s 
Head, his own portrait, with the following couplet 
underneath,— 

There’s many a King’s Head hang’d up for a sign, 

And many a Saint’s Head too. Then why not mine ? 

This sign continued to remain there, as appears from 
the title of the following tract. He died in Phoenix 
Alley in the latter part of the year 1653, as appears 
from a curious epitaph quoted by Mr. Collier, in his 
Memoirs of the Principal Actors in the Plays of 



PREFACE. 


• • 


Vll 

Shakespeare ,, 1846, p. 249, from Sportive Wit , the 
Muses Merriment , 1656,—“An Epitaph on John 
Taylor, who was born in the City of Glocester, died in 
Phoenix Alley in the 75 yeare of his age : you may 
finde him, if the worms have not devoured him, in 
Covent Garden churchyard :— 

“ Here lies John Taylor, without rime or reason, 

For death struck his muse in so cold a season. 

That Jack lost the use of his scullers to row; 

The chill pate rascal would not let his boat go. 

Alas, poor Jack Taylor ! this ’tis to drink ale 
AFith nutmegs and ginger, with a toste though stale: 

It drencht thee in rimes. Hadst thou been of the pack 
With Draiton and Johnson to quaff off thy sack. 

They’d infus’d thee a genius should nere expire, 

And have thawd thy muse with elemental fire. 

Yet still, for the honour of thy sprightly wit, 

Since some of thy fancies so handsomely hit. 

The nymphs of the rivers, for thy relation, 

Sirnamed thee the water-poet of the nation, etc.” 

The following curious tract, which is well described 
by Mr. Collier as “ one of the latest, scarcest, and most 
amusing of the water-poet’s productions”, was pub¬ 
lished early in 1653, by a mode of subscription fre- 




Vlll 


PREFACE. 


quently employed by this eccentric writer. He issued 
“ bills” soliciting subscriptions for an account of an 
intended journey to be afterwards compiled, obtaining 
as many payments as he could in advance, to defray 
the expenses of his travels. The course of his journey 
on the present occasion was to Chester, and thence 
round the coast of Wales, with a diversion over the 
Menai Straits to Beaumaris. It is much to be 
regretted that he did not describe his tour more 
minutely, but what he has transmitted is exceedingly 
interesting, especially to those who have paid any 
attention to the topography of Wales, and are aware 
how unimportant are the best of the early English 
accounts of that country. Taylor’s notices of Flint, 
Holywell, Bangor, Carnarvon, etc., although far too 
brief, convey information respecting their state soon 
after the civil wars that is well worth preserving. 


Dece7nber, 1859. 


A Short Relation 


OF 

A LONG JOURNEY 

MADE ROUND OR OVALL 

By Encompassing the Principalitie of Wales, 

from London, through and by the Counties of Mid¬ 
dlesex and Buckingham, Berks, Oxonia, Warwick, 
Stafford, Chester, Flint, Denbigh, Anglesey, Carnar¬ 
von, Merioneth, Cardigan, Pembroke, Caermarden, 
Glamorgan, Monmouth, Glocester, &c. 

This painfull circuit began on Tuesday the 13 of July last, 
1652. and was ended (or both ends brought together) 
on Tuesday the 7. of September following, 
being near 600. Miles. 


WHEBEUNTO IS ANNEXED AN EPITOME 

OF THE 

FAMOUS HISTORY OF WALES 

Performed by the Biding , Going , Crawling , Punning 
and Writing of John Taylor, dwelling at the Sign 
of the Poets Head, in Phenix Alley , near the middle 
of Long Aker in Covent Garden. 

(March 26, 1653.) 

IN MANUSCRIPT. 







To all 7ny honourable, worship full, and honest 
Friends, that have subscribed to this follow¬ 
ing Bill, I humbly desire them to read it 
againe, and consider the co?itents of it, and 
content mee accordingly. 

A TAYLORS BILL, WITH FEW OR NO ITEMS I BY OR 

FOR JOHN TAYLOR. 

Now in the seventy fourth yeare of mine age, 

I take an English and Welsh pilgrimage : 

From London first I bend my course to Chester, 

And humbly I to all men am requester; 

That when I have past over hills and dales, 

And compast with my travels famous Wales, 

That when to you that I a hook do give. 

Relating how I did subsist and live. 

With all my passages both here and there. 

And of my entertainement every where. 

Write but your names and dwellings in this bill, 

I ’le finde you, for the book give what you will. 
Twelve voyages and journies I have past. 

And now my age sayes this may be my last. 

My travels story shall most pleasant be 
To you that read, though painfull unto me, 

In this bill I did promise to giue to my friends 
(subscribers) a true relation of my journey and enter- 



1Y 


tainment (which I have done), and I do give to them 
more then I ‘promised , which is a briefe chronicle of 
Wales (which I did not) mention in my bill. I knoiv 
there are foure or five sorts of adventurers with me in 
this wectriesome journey , some of them have payd me 
already (before I went) and their paine is past; if 
all the rest do pay me (being near 3000j I am de¬ 
ceived ; if none doe pay me I am miserably cousened; 
for those that have payd , or can and will pay , I thanhe 
them; for such as would if they could , or will when 
they can , I wish them ability to performe their wills 
for their owne sokes , and mine both: but for those that 
are able to reward me and will not , I will not curse 
them , though I feare they are almost past praying for. 



A SHORT RELATION OF 

A LONG JOTJRNY, $c. 


A traveller that loves to see strange lands, 

May be a man or not a man of’s hands: 

But yet ’tis very requisite and meet. 

He should be furnish’d with good brains and feet; 
For he that wants legs, feet, and brains, and wit, 
To be a traveller is most unfit: 

And such am I by age of strength bereft. 

With one right leg, and one lame left leg left. 
Beggers on their backs their brats do reare ; 

But I my issue in my leg do beare; 

I dresse it often and impatiently, 

It lies and cries not, though it make me cry; 

Yet I dare challenge Scottish Jock or Jackey, 

Or any light-heel’d nimble footed lackey, 

To travell such a jaunt as I have done, 

With th’ right leg going, and the left leg run: 

Or if I please, the case I ’le alter so, 

To make the worst leg run, the best to goe. 

And sure my heart was stout, men may suppose. 
To venture travell with such legs as those. 

But there be some few that do understand, 

Tis merry walking with a horse in hand. 

Such was my lot, I had a stately courser. 

None courser quality’d, and for a worser, 


V 



6 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

There ’s neither Halifax, or Hull, nor Hell, 

That for good parts my horse can parallel. 

He was a beast, had heated been and cheated; 

Too much hard over rid and under meated, 

That he as gaunt as any greyhound was. 

And for a horses skelliton might passe : 

You might have told his ribs, he was so thin. 

And seen his heart and guts, but for his skin; 

He was not pursie foggy, cloy’d with greace, 

And, like his rider, lov’d rest, ease, and peace. 

Dun was, and is the dumb beast, and was done, 
E’re I begun, or he with me begun. 

He had a black list, from the maine to taile, 

Which is a colour that doth seldome faile: 

To change of paces he had been inur’d. 

But yet not one t’ endure, or be endur’d; 

His trot would fling a dagger out ot’h sheath, 

Or jolt a man to death or out of breath. 

His ambling was invisible to me. 

From such smooth easie garbs his feet were free: 
His common pace in sun-shine or in showre. 

Was (as he pleas’d) about two mile an houre. 

I never yet could put him in a sweat, 

For he was never free, but at his meate. 

Thus John upon Dun’s back, were both Dun John, 
And thus the tedious way we wandred on. 

Now to proceed in order duly, truly, 

I London left the thirteenth day of July: 

The wayes as faire as man could well desire. 

Cause I had none to draw Dun out o’th mire: 

I fifteen miles (to Bislip) that day went. 

Baited at Edgworth, to give Dun content; 


7 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

There my acquaintance, of good fame and worth. 

Did welcome me: the next day I set forth, 

With boots, sans spurs, with whip, and switch of burch, 
I got on twenty miles to Stoken church : 

The fifteenth day, S. Swithin, I and Dun, 

Did shuffle sixteen miles to Abington; 

There till the Tuesday following I abode. 

From thence I sixteen miles to great Ive rode, 

There at the Swan mine host was free and kind, 

He had but one eye, tother side was blinde; 

But surely he a right good-fellow was, 

And there one night my dun did eat good grass. 

On July’s twenty one from Ive I went, 

And unto Warwick straight my course I bent; 

There did I find another signe o’th Swan, 

Mine hostesse kind, mine host a gentile man. 

And for your love to me, good Master Venner, 

With humble thanks I am your praises penner. 

My gratitude to Master Jacob Harmer, 

His draper’s shop could never make me warmer. 

Then high and mighty Warwick’s drink did there. 

It made my brains to caper and careere. 

It was of such invincible strong force. 

To knock me (in five miles) twice from my horse: 

And sure, I think, the drink was certainly 
Infused with the conqu’ring ghost of Guy. 

On July’s two and twentieth day I came 
Vnto an ancient house call’d Hunningham, 

There were two ladies of good worth and fame, 

Whom for some reasons I forbeare to name; 

Their son and grandson (John) I ’le not forget, 

He’s nobly minded as a baronet; 


8 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

Foure dayes they kept me with exceeding cheerc, 

And gave me silver because travels deare. 

From thence my journey 5 miles I pursue, 

To Coventry, most famous for true blew ; 

There the faire crosse, of ancient high renown, 

Stands firme, though other crosses all are down. 

Tis a dry city, and dry let it be, 

Twas not made dryer one small drop for me : 

Like a camelion, there I broke my fast, 

And thence I twenty miles to Lichfield past ; 

There at the George I took my lodging up, 

I well was lodg’d, and well did sup and cup, 

When there, by chance, I cast my wandring ey on 
The ruin’d church, with griefe I thought on Sion : 

I sigh’d to see that sad confusion, 

Like th’ Hebrews by the brook of Babylon. 

On July’s twenty seventh I rode alone 
Full sixteen miles unto a town calPd Stone. 

Next day to Nantwich, sixteen long miles more, 

From thence to Chester, near the Cambrian shore: 
There was my welcome in such noble fashion, 

Of which in prose I ’le make some briefe relation. 

My lodging at Chester was in the Watergate street, 
at the signe of the Feathers; I lay on a feather-bed, 
and in the same house I met with two brothers of 
mine acquaintance thirty years; they brought me to 
the chamber of a reverend Italian physition, named 
Vincent Lancelles; he was more then 80 yeares of 
age, yet of a very aide body, and vigorous constitution. 
The yong mens names were Thomas Morrine and 


9 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

Francis Morrine ; the people were pleased (out of their 
ignorance, or in small wit) to call the old gentleman a 
mountebank; but I am sure he was deservedly well 
reputed and reported of, for many malladies and dis¬ 
eases which hee cured, whereof divers were judged 
incurable. He helped such as were grieved for three 
severall considerations. 

First, hee cured the rich for as much as he could 
get. 

Secondly, hee healed the meaner sort for what they 
could spare, or were willing to part withall. 

Thirdly, hee cured the poor for Gods sake, and gave 
them money and other reliefe, as I my selfe (with 
thankfull experience) must ever acknowledge : for he 
looked upon my lame leg, and applyed such medicine, 
as did not only ease me, but I am in hope will cure 
me, the griefe being nothing but a blast of lightning 
and thunder, or planet stroke, which I received nine 
years past at Oxford. 

For a further courtesie, when I was taking my leave 
of Chester, I demanded what I had to pay for lodging, 
dyet, and horse-meat. Mine host say’d, that all was 
fully pay'd and satisfied by the good old physition. 
My humble thanks remembred to Captain Vincent 
Corbet, but more especially to Captain John Whitworth 
at Chester. 

On Fryday the 30 . of July, I rode (and footed it) 
ten miles to Flint (which is the shire town of Flint- 


10 A short Relation of a long Journey. 

shire), and surely war hath made it miserable ; the 
sometimes famous castle there, in which Richard 
the Second of that name, king of England, was sur¬ 
prised by Henry of Bullinbrook, is now almost buried 
in its own ruins, and the town is so spoiled, that it 
may truely be said of it, that they never had any 
market (in the memory of man). They have no sadler, 
taylor, weaver, brewer, baker, botcher, or button 
maker; they have not so much as a signe of an ale¬ 
house, so that I was doubtfull of a lodging, but (by 
good hap) I hapned into the house of one Mr. Edward 
Griffith, where I had good meat and lodging for me 
and my dumb Dun beast, for very reasonable consider¬ 
ation, and this (me thinks) is a pitifu.ll discription of a 
shire town. 

Saturday, the last of July, I left Flint, and went 
three miles to Holy-well, of which place I must speak 
somewhat materially. About the length of a furlong, 
down a very steep hill, is a well (full of wonder and 
admiration) ; it comes from a spring not far from 
Rudland castle ; it is and hath been many hundred 
yeares knowne by the name of Holy-well, but it is 
more commonly and of most antiquity called Saint 
Winifrids well, in memory of the pious and chaste 
virgin Winifrid, who was there beheaded for refusing 
to yield her chastity to the furious lust of a pagan 
prince : in that very place where her blond was shed, 
this spring sprang up ; from it doth issue so forcible a 


11 


A short Relation of a lorn] Journey. 

stream, that within a hundred yards of it, it drives 
certain mils, and some do say that nine com mils and 
fulling mils are driven with the stream of that spring. 
It hath a fair chappell erected over it, called Saint 
Winifrids chappell, which is now much defaced by the 
injury of these late wars. The well is compassed 
about with a fine wall of free-stone ; the wall hath 
eight angles or corners, and at every angle is a fair 
stone piller, whereon the west end of the chappell is 
supported. In two severall places of the wall there are 
neat stone staires to go into the water that comes from 
the well, for it is to be noted that the well it selfe doth 
continually work and bubble with extream violence, 
like a boiling cauldron or furnace, and within the wall, 
or into the well very few do enter. The water is 
christalline, sweet and medicinable ; it is frequented 
daily by many people of rich and poore, of all diseases, 
amongst which great store of folkes are cured, divers 
are eased, but none made the worse. The hill de¬ 
scending is plentifully furnished (on both sides of the 
way) with beggers of all ages, sexes, conditions, sorts 
and sizes; many of them are impotent, but all are 
impudent, and richly embrodered all over with such 
hexameter poudred ernins (or vermin) as are called 
lice in England. 

Monday, the second of August, when the day begun, 
I mounted my dun, having hired a little boy (to direct 
me in the way) that could speak no English, and for 


y 


12 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

lack of an interpreter, we travelled speachless eight 
miles, to Rudland, where is an old ruined winde and 
war-shaken castle ; from that town, after my horse and 
the boy, and my selfe had dined with hay, oats, and 
barrow causs, we hors’t and footed it twelve miles 
further, to a fine strong walled towne, named Aber- 
conwy ; there I lodged at the house of one Mr. Spencer 
(an English man) ; he is a post-master there, and there 
my entertainement was good, and my reckoning rea- 
souable. There is a good defensive castle which I 
would have seen, but because there was a garrison, I 
was loath to give occasion of offence, or be much in¬ 
quisitive. 

The next clay, when the clock strok two and foure, 

I mounted Dun, Dun mounted Penmen Mawre ; 

And if I do not take my aime amisse. 

That lofty mountain seems the skies to kisse: 

Put there are other hils accounted higher, 

Whose lofty tops I had no mind t’ aspire: 

As Snowdon, and the tall Plinnillimon, 

Which 1 no stomach had to tread upon. 

Merioneth mountains, and shire Cardigan 
To travell over, will tire horse and man : 

I, to Bewmaris came that day and din’d, 

Where I the good lord Buckley thought to find : 

But he to speak with me had no intent. 

Dry I came into ’s house, dry out I went. 

I left Bewmaris, and to Bangor trac’d it, 

Ther’s a brave church, but time and war defac’d it: 
For love and mony I was welcome thither, 
lis merry meeting when they come together. 


13 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

Thus having travelled from Aberconwy to Beu- 
morris and to Bangor, Tuesday 3. August, which in all 
they are pleased to call 14 miles, but most of the 
Welsh miles are large London measure, not any one of 
them but hath a hand bredth or small cantle at each 
end, by which means, what they want in broadness, 
they have it in length; besides the ascending and 
descending almost impassable mountains, and the 
break-neck stony ways, doth make such travellers as 
my selfe judge that they were no misers in measuring 
their miles ; besides, the land is courser then it is in 
most parts about London, which makes them to afford 
the larger measure : for course broad-cloath is not at 
the rate of velvet or satten. 

Wednesday the 4. of August, I rode 8 miles from 
Bangor to Carnarvon, where I thought to have seen a 
town and a castle, or a castle and a town ; but I saw 
both to be one, and one to be both ; for indeed a man 
can hardly divide them in judgement or apprehension ; 
and I have seen many gallant fabricks and fortifica¬ 
tions, but for compactness and compleatness of Caer¬ 
narvon I never yet saw a parallel. And it is by art 
and nature so sited and seated, that it stands impregn¬ 
able ; and if it be well mand, victualled and ammuni¬ 
tioned, it is invincible, except fraud or famine do 
assault, or conspire against it. 

I was 5. hours in Caernarvon, and when I thought 
that I had taken my leave for ever of it, then was I 


// 


14 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

meerly deceived; for when I was a mile on my way, 
a trooper came galloping after me, and enforced me 
back to be examined by Colonell Thomas Mason (the 
governour there), who, after a few words, when hee 
heard my name and knew my occasions, he used me 
so respectively and bountifully, that (at his charge) I 
stayd all night, and by the means of him, and one Mr. 
Lloyd (a justice of peace there), I was furnished with 
a guide, and something else to beare charges for one 
weeks travaile; for which curtesies, if I were not 
thankfull, I were worth the hanging for being in- 
gratefull. 

The 5. of August I went 12 miles to a place called 
Climenie, where the noble Sire John Owen did, with 
liberall welcome, entertain me. 

The 6. day I rode to a town called Harleck, which 
stands on a high barren mountaine, very uneasie for 
the ascending into, by reason of the steep and uneeven 
stony way; this town had neither hay, grass, oats, or 
any relief for a horse : there stands a strong castle, but 
the town is all spoild, and almost inhabitable by the 
late lamentable troubles. 

So I left that towne (for fear of starving my horse) 
and came to a place called Bermoth (12. miles that 
day, as narrow as 20.) That place was so plentifully 
furnished with want of provision, that it was able to 
famish 100. men and horses: I procured a brace of 
boyes to goe two miles to cut grasse for my dun, for 


15 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

which I gave them two groats ; for my selfc and guide, 
I purchased a hen boyld with bacon, as yellow as the 
cowslip, or gold noble. My course lodging there was 
at the homely house of one John Thomson, a Lanca¬ 
shire English man. 

Saturday the 7. of August, I horst, footed (and 
crawling upon all 4.) 10. slender miles to Aberdovy, 
which was the last lodging that I had in Merioneth¬ 
shire, where was the best entertaincment for men, but 
almost as bad as the worst for horses in all Merioneth¬ 
shire. 

August 9. I gat into Cardiganshire, to a miserable 
market town called Aberistwith, where before the lat( 
troubles there stood a strong castle, which being blowi 
up, fell down, and many fair houses (with a defensible 
thick wall about the town) are transformed into con¬ 
fused heaps of unnecessary rubbidge : within foure 
miles of this town are the silver mines, which were ho¬ 
nourable and profitable, as long as my good friend 
Thomas Bushell, Esquire, had the managing of them, 
who was most industrious in the work, and withall by 
his noble demeanour and affable deportment deservedly 
gain’d the generall love and affection of all the coun¬ 
trey of all degrees of people : but since he hath left 
that important imploymerit, the mines are neglected. 

From Aberistwith, I went to the house of Sir Bi¬ 
chard Price, knight and baronet, where my entertain¬ 
ment was freely welcome, with some expression of 


16 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

further curtesies at my departure, for which I humbly 
thank the noble knight, not forgetting my gratefull 
remembrance to Mr. Thomas Evans there : that whole 
dayes journey being 9. miles. 

Tuesday the 10. of August, having hired a guide, 
for I that knew neither the intricate wayes, nor could 
speake any of the language, was necessitated to have 
guides from place to place, and it being harvest time, 
I was forced to pay exceeding deare for guiding; so 
that some dayes I payd 2s., sometimes 3, besides bear¬ 
ing their charges of meat and drinke and lodging ; for 
it is to bee understood that those kind of labouring 
people had rather reap hard all the day for six pence, 
then to go ten or twelve miles easily on foot for two 
shillings. That day, after sixteen miles travell, I came 
to the house of an ancient worthy and hospitable gen¬ 
tleman, named sure Walter Lloyd; he was noble in 
bountifull house-keeping, and in his generositie caused 
his horse to be saddled, and the next day hee rode 
three miles to Conway, and shewed me the way to 
Caermarden, which they do call 18 small miles, but I 
had rather ride 30 of such miles as are in many parts 
of England ; the way continually hilly, or mountainous 
and stony, insomuch that I was forced to alight and 
walke 30 times, and when the sun was near setting, I 
having foure long miles to go, and knew no part of the 
way, was resolved to take my lodging in a reeke of 
oats in the field ; to which purpose, as I rode out of the 


17 


A short Relation of a lone) Journey. 

stony way towards my field chamber, my horse and I 
found a softer bed, for we were both in a bog or quag¬ 
mire, and at that time I had much ado to draw my- 
selfe out of the dirt, or my poore weary Dun out of 
the mire. 

I being in this hard strait, having night (of Gods 
sending) owl-light to guide me, no tongue to aske a 
question, the way unknown, or uneven, I held it my 
best course to grope in the hard stony way againe, 
which having found (after a quarter of an houres me¬ 
lancholy paces), a horsman of Wales, that could speak 
English, overtook me and brought me to Caermarden, 
where I found good and free entertainment at the 
house of one Mistris Oakley. 

Caermarden, the shire town Caermardenshire, is a 
good large town, with a defencible strong castle, and a 
reasonable haven for small barks and boats, which for¬ 
merly was for the use of good ships, but now it is 
much impedimented with shelvs, sands, and other an¬ 
noyances ; it is said that Merlyn the prophet was born 
there ; it is one of the plentifullest townes that ever I 
set my foot in, for very fair egs are cheaper then small 
pears; for, as near as I can remember, I will set down 
at what rate victuals was there. 

Butter, as good as the world affords, two pence halfe- 
penny, or three pence the pound. 

A salmon, two foot and a halfe long, twelve pence. 

Biefe, three half pence the pound. 

i) 


18 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

Oysters, a penny the hundred. 

Egs, twelve for a penny. 

Peares, six for a penny. 

And all manner of fish and flesh at such low prices, 
that a little money will buy much, for there is nothing 
scarce, dear, or hard to come by, but tobacco pipes. 

My humble thanks to the governour there, to Wil¬ 
liam Guinn of Talliaris, Esquire ; to Sure Henry 
Vaughan; and to all the rest, with the good woman 
mine hostess. 

Concerning Pembrookshire, the people do speak 
English in it almost generally, and therefore they call 
it little England beyond Wales, it being the furthest 
south and west county in the whole principality. The 
shire town, Pembrook, hath been in better estate, for 
as it is now, some houses down, some standing, and 
many without inhabitants ; the castle there hath been 
strong, large, stately, and impregnable, able to hold out 
any enemy, except hunger, it being founded upon a 
lofty rock, gives a brave prospect a far off. Tenby 
towne and castle being somewhat near, or eight miles 
from it, seems to be more usefull and considerable. 
My thanks to Mistris Powell at the Hart there. 

Tenby hath a good castle and a haven, but in re¬ 
spect of Milford Haven, all the havens under the hea¬ 
vens are inconsiderable, for it is of such length, bredth, 
and depth, that 1000 ships may ride safely in it in all 
weathers, and by reason of the hills that do inclose it. 


19 


A short Relat ion of a long Journey. 

and the windings and turnings of the haven, from one 
poynt of land to another, it is conjectured that 1500 
ships may ride there, and not scarce one of them can 
see another. The haven hath in it 16 creekes, 5 bayes, 
and 13 rodes, of large capacity, and all these are known 
by severall names. 

The goodly church of St. Davids hath beene forced 
lately to put off the dull and heavy coat of peacefull 
lead, which was metamorphosed into warlike bullets. 
In that church lies interred Edmund earle of Bich- 
mond, father to King Henry the seventh, for whose 
sake his grandson (K. Henry the eight) did spare it 
from defacing, when hee spared not much that be¬ 
longed to the church. 

Thus having gone and riden many miles, with two 
many turning and winding mountains, stony turning 
waies, forward, backward, sidewaies, circular and semi¬ 
circular, upon the 17. of August I rode to the house 
of the right honourable Bichard Vaughan, earle of 
Karbery, at a place called Golden Grove ; and surely 
that house, with the faire fields, woods, walks, and 
pleasant scituation, may not onely be rightly called 
the Golden Grove, but it may without fiction be justly 
stiled the Cambrian Paradise, and Elizium of Wales; 
but that which grac’d it totally, was the nobleness, 
and affable presence and deportment of the earle, with 
his faire and vertuous new married countess, the beau¬ 
tiful lady Alice, or Alicia, daughter to the right honour- 


20 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

able the late carle of Bridgwater, deceased : I humbly 
thank them both, for they were pleased to honour me 
so much, that I supp’d with them, at which time a 
gentleman came in, who being sate, did relate a 
strange discourse of a violent rain which fell on the 
mountains in part of Radnorshire and into Glamorgan¬ 
shire ; the story was, as near as I can remember, as 
followeth. 

That on Saturday the 17. of July last, 1652, there 
fell a sudden showre of rain in the counties aforesaid, 
as if an ocean had flowed from the clouds to overwhelm 
and drown the mountains : it poured down with such 
violent impetuositie, that it tumbled down divers 
houses of stone that stood in the way of it; it drowned 
many cattell and sheep, bore all before it as it ran, 
therefore a poore man with his son and daughter for¬ 
sook their house, and the father and son climed up 
into a tree for their safety; in the mean time the mer¬ 
ciless waters took hold of the poore maid, and almost 
furiously bare her away down between two mountains, 
rolling and hurling her against many great stones, till 
at last it threw her near the side of the stream, and 
her hair and hair-lace being loose, it catched hold of a 
stump of an old thorn bush, by which means she was 
stayed, being almost dead; but as she lay in this 
misery, she saw a sad and lamentable sight, for the 
water had fiercely unrooted the tree, and bore it down 
the stream, with her father and brother, who were both 


21 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

unfortunately drowned : the maid, as I was certified, 
is like to live and recover. 

My humble thanks to the good yong hopefull lord 
\ aughan, and to all the rest of the noble olive branches 
of that most worthy tree of honour, their father, not 
omitting or yet forgetting my gratitude to Mr. Steward 
there, with all the rest of the gentlemen and servants 
attendant, with my love to Mr. Thomas Kyve, unknown, 
and so Golden Grove farewell. 

The 18. of August, I hired a guide who brought me 
to Swansey (sixteen well stretch'd Welch mountainous 
miles), where I was cordially welcome to an ancient 
worthy gentleman, Walter Thomas, esquire, for whose 
love and lebirality I am much obliged to him and the 
good gentlewoman his wife ; he staid me till the next 
day after diner, and then sent his man with me a mile 
to his sons house, named William Thomas, esquire : 
there, as soon as I had rewarded my guide he slip’d 
from me, leaving me to the mercy of the house, where 
I found neither mercy nor manners, for the good gen¬ 
tleman and his wife were both rode from home ; and 
though there were people old enough, and big enough, 
yet there was not one kind enough or good enough to 
do me the least kind of courtesie or friendship ; they 
did not so much as bid me come into the house, or 
offer me a cup of drink; they all scornfully wondred 
at me, like so many buzzards and woodcocks about an 
owle : there was a shotten, thin scul’d, shallow brain’d. 


22 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

simpleton fellow, that answered me, that he was a 
stranger there, hut I believed him not, by reason of 
his familiarity with the rest of the folks ; there was 
also a single soaFd gentlewoman, of the last edition, 
who would vouchsafe me not one poor glance of her 
eye beams, to whom I said as followeth :— 

Fair gentlewoman, I was sent hither by the father 
of the gentleman of this house, to whom I have a letter 
from a gentleman of his familiar acquaintance ; I am 
sure that the owner of this place is famed and reported 
to be a man endowed with all affability and courtesie 
to strangers, as is every way accomodating to a gentle¬ 
man of worth and quality; and that if I were but a 
meer stranger to him, yet his generosity would not 
suffer me to be harbourless, but by reason of his fathers 
sending his servant with, and a friends letter, I sayd 
that if Mr. Thomas had been at home I should be 
better entertained. 

To which Mrs. Fumpkins, looking scornfully ascue 
over her shoulders, answered me with. It may be so. 
Then, most uncourteous mistress, quoth I, I doubt I 
must bee necessitated to take up my lodging in the 
field : to which the said ungentle gentlewoman (with 
her posteriors, or butt end, towards me) gave me a 
finall answer, that I might if I would. 

Whereupon I was enraged, and mounted my dun ; 
and in a friendly maner I tooke my leave, saying, that 
I would wander further and try my fortune, and that 



23 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

if my stay at that house, that night, would save either 
Mr. Shallow-pate or Mrs. Jullock from hanging, that I 
would rather lie, and venture all hazards that are inci¬ 
dent to hors, man, or traveller, then to he beholding to 
such unmanerly mungrils. 

Thus desperately I shaked them off, that would not 
take me on ; and riding I knew not whither, with a 
wide wild heath under me, and a wider firmament 
above me, I roade at adventure, betwixt light and 
darkness, about a mile, when luckily a gentleman over¬ 
took mee, and after a little talk of my distresse and 
travail, he bad me be of good chear, for he would bring 
me to a lodging and entertainment; in which promise 
he was better than his word, for he brought me to a 
pretty market town called Neath, where he spent his 
money upon me ; for which kindness I thank him. 
But one doctour (as they call him) Bioc Jones (or 
doctor Merriman) came arid supt with mee, and very 
kindly payd all the reckoning. That dayes journey 
being but six miles sterling. 

The 19. of August I hired a guide for 35. (16 
miles) to a place called Penline, where sometime stood 
a strong castle, which is now ruined ; adjoining to it, 
or in the place of it, is a fair house, belonging to 
Anthony Tuberville, esquire, where, although the gen¬ 
tleman was from home, the good gentlewoman his wife 
did with hospitable and noble kindnesse bid me wel¬ 


come. 


24 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 

Fry day, the 20. of August, I rode a mile to an an¬ 
cient town, named Coobridge, from whence I scrambled 
two miles further to Llanstrithyott, where the noble 
gentleman Sure John Awbrey, with his vertuous lady, 
kept me three dayes ; in the mean space I rode two 
miles to the house of the ancient and honorable knight 
Sir Thomas Lewis, at Penmark, to whom and his good 
lady I humbly dedicate my gratitude. The same day, 
after dinner, I returned back to Llanstrithyott, which 
was to me a second Golden Grove, or Welch paradice, 
for building, scituation, wholsome ayre, pleasure, and 
plenty : for my free entertainment there, with the noble 
expression of the gentlemans bounty at my departure, 
I heartily do wish to him and his, with all the rest of 
my honorable and noble, worshipfull and friendly 
benefactors, true peace and happinesse, internail, ex¬ 
tern all, and e ter nail. 

Monday, the 23. of August, I rode eight miles to 
the good town of Cardiffe, where I was welcome to 
Mr. Aaron Price, the town dark there, with whom I 
dined, at his cost and my perrill: after dinner he 
directed me two miles further, to a place called Llan- 
rumney, where a right true bred generous gentleman, 
Thomas Morgan, esquire, gave me such loving and 
liberall entertainment, for which I cannot be so thank- 
full as the merit of it requires. 

Tuesday, being both Saint Bartholomews day, my 
birthday, the 24. of the month, and the very next day 


A short Relation of a long Journey. 25 

before Wednesday, I arose betimes, and travelled to a 
town called Newport, and from thence to Carbean, and 
lastly to Vske, in all 15 well measur’d Welsh Mon¬ 
mouthshire miles : at Uske I lodg’d at an inn, the 
house of one Master Powell. 

The 25. of August I rode but 12 miles; by an un¬ 
look’d for accident, I found Bartholomew Fair at 
Monmouth, a hundred miles from Smithfield ; there I 
stayed two nights upon the large reckoning of nothing 
to pay, for which I humbly thank my hospitable host 
and hostess, Master Reignald Bowse and his good wife. 

Monmouth, the shire town of Monmouthshire, was 
the last Welsh ground that I left behind me. August 
27. I came to Glocester, where, though I was born 
there, very few did know me ; I was almost as igno¬ 
rant as he that knew no body ; my lodging there was 
at the signe of the George, at the house of my name¬ 
sake, Master John Taylor, from whence on Saturday 
the 28. I rode 16 miles to Barnsley. 

Of all the places in England and Wales, that I have 
travelled to, this village of Barnsley doth most strictly 
observe the Lords day, or Sunday, for little children 
are not suffered to walke or play : and two women 
who had beene at church both before and after noone, 
did but walke into the fields for their recreation, and 
they were put to their choice, either to pay sixpence 
apiece (for prophane walking) or to be laid one houre 
in the stocks; and the pievish willfull women (though 

E 


26 A short Relation of a long Journey. 

they were able enough to pay), to save their money 
and jest out the matter, lay both by the heeles merrily 
one lioure. 

There is no such zeale in many places and parishes 
in Wales ; for they have neither service, prayer, ser¬ 
mon, minister, or preacher, nor any church door opened 
at all, so that people do exercise and edifie in the 
church yard, at the lawfull and laudable games of trap, 
catt, stool-ball, racket, etc., on Sundayes. 

From Barnsley, on Monday the 30. of August, I 
rode 30 miles to Abington; from thence, etc., to Lon¬ 
don, where I brought both ends together on Tuesday 
the 7. of September. 

Those that are desirous to know more of Wales, let 
them either travell for it as I have done, or read Mr. 
Camdens Britania , or Mr. Speeds laborious History , 
and the geographicall maps and descriptions will give 
them more ample or contenting satisfaction. 


One LIumphrey Lloyd, esquire, did exactly collect 
the Brittish or Welsh history, from the origin all till the 
yeare 1510, after which it was continued by doctor 
David Powell, till the yeare 1584 ; printed then and 
dedicated to sir Phillip Sidney, knight. Those who are 
desirous to read more largely, let them make use of 
their larger book : but for such as love brevity or 
cheapnesse, let them read this which followeth. 



CAMBRIA BRITTANIA: 

OR 


A short Abbreviation of the History and Chronicles of 


WALES. 


By John Taylor. 


C ARADOC of Lancarvan (a studious antiquary, and 
a learned diligent collector of the successions and 
acts of the Brittish princes) did write the History of 
Wales , from the time and raigne of Cadwallador, who 
lived in the year of our redemption 685, and continued 
the said chronology near 500 years, till the raigne of 
Henry the Second, king of England. It hath alwayes 
before those times, and ever since, that writers for 
feare or flattery, or profit, have used shamefull (or 
shameless) partiality, in publishing the fames of their 
owne princes and country above measure, and beyond 
truth; but in their detracting and traducing others 
they have been too liberall; and in relating their 
valour, vertues, or injuries of such they fancied not, 
they have been too sparing, or wilfully negligent. 

But to make bold and speak the truth, it is worth 
good consideration, to know what reason the English 
had to make warr against the Welsh. Wales had ever 



28 A short Abbreviation of the History 

been a free country, not subject to any prince, except 
their own : they owed no homage or alegiance neither 
to England or to any other Croune or State ; their 
language, lawes, and customs, were of their owne insti¬ 
tutions, to which lawes both prince and people were 
subject; they lived quietly upon their owne, and they 
never went forthe of their owne bounds to rob the 
English, or to spoile and invade England, or any other 
nation. Then the question is with much ease proposed 
and answered, What cause did the Welsh give to the 
English to make warre upon them, to invade, plunder, 
spoile, and kill ] The answer is, or may be, Because 
the English were ambitious and covetous, and also 
stronger than their neighbours, and being able and 
willing to do injury and oppress the Welsh, they many 
times attempted to subject and conquer them; and 
they (on the other side) did manfully resist and oppose 
their English invadors, as this brief relation will truly 
declare and manifest. 

Thus force resisted force, the Saxons, Danes, English, 
Irish, and Flemings, all severally, and sometimes joined 
together, to conquer, and make prey and purchase of 
poor Wales, they all striving to have the goods and 
lands that belonged not to them ; and the Welsh men 
(with their best endeavours) justly and valiantly hold¬ 
ing their own. They had kept their country and lan¬ 
guage 2700 years, and the historians, antiquaries, and 
gentry of that nation did record their laws, pedigrees, 


29 


and Chronicles of Wales. 

and geneologies, with as much, or more exact truth 
then many, or any other nations. They had lived 
under their own governours (from the time of Heli the 
high priest of the Jews) 1800 years before Cadwallador, 
who went to Rome, and died there; from which time 
the chief rulers of AVales were sometimes stiled kings, 
sometimes princes ; these were many times under one 
king or prince, of North Wales ; sometimes they had 
three princes or kings, as North-Wales, South-AVales, 
and Powis Land. These three princes, although they 
had many and mighty enemies, did often make warre 
upon each other, spoiling and harrasing their country, 
to the advantage of their enemies and ruine of them- 

O 

selves. But to proceed to the history. 

In the yeare 688, Ivor (a kinsman of Cadwalador) 
was prince some small time; and hee also went to 
Rome, and there ended his daies. 

The next Ivor Roderick Molwinnoc, the second 
prince of North-Wales, rained 30 years ; he was grand¬ 
child to Cadwallador, a valiant man ; he died anno 755. 

The third was Canon Tindaethwy, a gallant prince ; 
he warr’d with good success against Offa, king of 
Mercia, who would have invaded North-Wales; but 
Canon did defend himselfe so stoutly, that Offa with 
much loss retired : the English at that time had not 
one foot of ground in AVales. 

Anno 800. Mervin was the fourth king of North- 
AVales ; he married Esyllit, daughter to Canon. In his 


30 A short Abbreviation of the History 

time Egbert, king of the West Saxons, invaded and 
spoyled Anglesey; and Kenulph, king of Mercia, did 
much mischiefe in Powis Land, whereby Mervin being 
overpowred, was slaine, valiantly fighting against the 
kins: of Mercia. 

Anno 843. Roderick the Second (called the Great) 
was the 5. king of North-Wales; he had much war 
with the English Mercians, with various success, but 
for the most part fortunate. In his raigne, the Danes 
came and spoiled Anglesey, against whom prince Rode¬ 
rick manfully fighting was unfortunately slaine. But 
some do write, that he did beat the Danes out of An¬ 
glesey, and slain afterwards in a battell against the 
Englishmen, anno 876, when he had raigned with 
much love and honour 39 years. 

The 6. king or prince was Anarawd, the son of 
Roderick; and about that time of anno 877. the Nor¬ 
mans, with their duke Rollo, invaded a great province 
in France, which from the name of Normans (or north¬ 
ern men), is to this day called Normandy. 

In the year of grace 878, the Danes and Englishmen 
came with great powers against Wales, between whom 
and the Welsh was there a bloudy battell, near the 
water of Conwy, where the Welsh had a mighty vic¬ 
tory, which they called the revenge for the death of 
Roderick. Prince Anarawd died after much trouble, 
in anno 913, having rained 34. years. 

Seventhly, or the 7. prince was Edwal Yoel. The 


31 


and Chronicles of Wales. 

Danes spoyled Anglesey, and the English burnt and 
spoiled Brecknock. Athelstane king of England, en¬ 
forced the Welsh to pay him a yearly tribute of 20 
pounds in gold, 300 pounds in silver, and 200 biefes, 
or cattell. Afterwards Edwal Voel had raigned 25 
years, he and his brother Else were both slaine fighting 
with the Danes, anno 938. 

The 8. prince was Howell Dha, he was a kinsman to 
Edwal Voel, he was a prince of South-Wales, but he 
afterwards had all Wales; the English vexed him 
often, and did much hurt; but still Howel galantly 
resisted them, and died much lamented in the year of 
Christ 948. 

The 9. were Jevas and Jago, or James, both brethren, 
and sons to Edwal Voel. They had cruell wars with 
Owen and his brethren (the sons of Howell Dha), in 
which bickerings Owen (with his brothers) were slaine. 
About this time the Danes spoiled Anglesey, and burnt 
Holyhead. And also Wales was much troubled by 
Edgar king of England ; but it was agreed at last, that 
the tribute of gold, and silver, and cattel, which was 
laid on the Welsh nation in Edwal Yoels time, after it 
had been paid near 13 years should be remitted, and 
in lieu thereof the princes of Wales were injoyned to 
pay a certaine number of woolves heads (for at that 
time four Jeg’d woolves did as much mischiefe amongst 
beasts, sheep, and cattell, as two leg’d woolves have 
done in these latter times amongst men), and by the 


32 


A short Abbreviation of the History 

means of the yearly payment of the aforesaid woolves 
heads, there was not one of those ravenous beasts in 
three years payment to be found in all Wales, or the 
marches of England. 

The brethren the princes fell out (for lordship and 
love can brook no rivails or fellowship); James impri¬ 
soned Jevas a long time, at which time the Danes 
entred Anglesey, and did much spoile. Howell, the 
son of Jevas, made sharpe war against his unkle Jago, 
or James, and beat him, and releast his father, after 
Avhicli he took his eldest unkle Meric, and put his eyes 
out; but never restored his father to his former estate, 
but kept the principality to himselfe. This was about 
the yeare of our Lord 974. 

The 10. king or prince of North-Wales (or almost all 
Wales) was Howell ap Jevas, or the son of Jevas. Anno 
975, there was great wars and much bloudshed betwixt 
South and North-Wales; but Howell took his unkle 
James, which had imprisoned his father Jevas, and then 
possest all Wales in peace for a short while, for the 
Danes brake in and spoiled many towns and places in 
North-Wales, and did much mischiefe to the cathedrall 
of S. Davids. And in 982 a great army from England 
wasted and spoiled Brecknock, and a great part of 
South-Wales; but prince Howell made war against 
them, slew many, and made the rest flee. The second 
yeare after, Howell entred England with an army, in 
which war he was slaine valiantly fighting, in the 
yeare 984, to whom succeeded his brother. 


33 


and Chronicles of Wales. 

Caclwallen, the 11. prince, he first warred against 
Jonavall the son of Meric, whose eyes Howell had 
caused to be put out, who by right was right lord of 
all Wales. In the end Jonavall was slain by Cadwal- 
hon, and the next year after Cadwalhon himselfe was 
kill’d by Meredith, the son of Owen, prince of South- 
Wales, anno 985. 

The 12. king or prince was Meredith ap Owen, or 
the son of Owen, which Owen was son to Howell Dha, 
before mentioned ; he began in the yeare 986, and had 
a most troublesome government; for the Danes again 
wasted Anglesey. They took prisoner Lhywach, bro¬ 
ther to prince Meredith, and put his eyes out, and the 
Danes tooke 2000 prisoners, and either carried them 
away, or put them to ransome; and in the yeare 9 8. 
the Danes came againe and spoyled St. Davids, Lhan- 
dydoch, Lhanhadarno, Llanristed, and all religious 
places of devotion that their heathenish power could 
master. 

In these troubles, prince Meredith was forced to give 
those miscreant Danes a penny a head for every man 
that was then alive in all his dominions; which pay¬ 
ment was called the Black Armies Tribute. About this 
time all South-Wales was over ran by the English, and 
(to fill the measure of the affliction in Wales) Meredith 
made mighty havock in Glamorgan-shire; so that there 
was not any place in Wales free from the fury of fire 
and sword. But to make the measure of misery heap 

F 


// 


34 A short Abbreviation of the History 

and run over, the Danes came once more, and made a 
prey of the Isle of Anglesey; with which continuall 
troubles, Meredith being overladen and wearied, re¬ 
signed his princely authority to Edward ap Meric ap 
Meredith, or his own grandchild. Meredith died 998. 

Edwal, the 13. prince of North-Wales, was scarce 
warm in his seat, but Meredith fought and fought for 
repossession, and after much bloudshed, lost his labour. 
Then the Danes came again and spoiled much in 
North-Wales ; and the prince valiantly fighting was 
slain, and the same Danes came again to S. Davids, 
ransack’d it, and spoiled all the country. 

The 14. king was Aedan ap Belgored ; he fought for 
the principality with Cenan the son of Howell, and 
slew him in the year 1003. About this time the Danes 
spoiled many places in West-Wales; and in this princes 
raigne all the Danes in England were slaine in one 
night: and anno 1015. prince Aedon was slain by his 
successor. 

Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht, after he had kill’d Aedan, was 
the 15 prince ; he had a peacefull and plentifull begin¬ 
ning, till a low born Scot, whose name was Kunne, 
faigned himselfe to be the sonne of Meredith ap Owen 
before named : but Lhewelyn met him and fought with 
him, and in the end made Bunne run, till at last he 
killed him. And after that, this prince was slaine by 
Howell and Meredith, the sons of Edwal, 1026. 

The 16. prince was Jago (or James) the son of 


35 


and Chronicles of Wales. 

Edwal; he rained over North-Wales, and Rytherch of 
Jestin swayed in South-Wales, 1031. But by con- 
tinuall contention betwixt the grandchildren of Howell 
Dha, Rytherch (prince of South-Wales) was slain by 
the English ; and then arose new wars in North-Wales, 
for Griffith ap Lhewelyn ap Sytylth war’d against Jago, 
slew him, and possest the principality, anno 1037. 

Griffith ap Lhewelyn was the 17. prince of North- 
Wales ; he overcame both the English and the Danes, 
when they would have invaded his land, in anno 1038. 
He had much trouble with prince Howell of South- 
Wales ; but in the end he overcame him and possest 
his principallity : after this Griffith was treacherously 
taken, by Conan the son of Jago, and as Conan was 
carrying him away towards some Irish ships, the coun¬ 
try arose up speedily and happily, and (after a sharpe 
fight) redeemed their prince Griffith, and Conan was 
forced to Hie for his life. After that the prince had 
another great fight with Howell ap Edwin, which 
Howell was joyned with the Danes and English, and 
in a bloudy battle the English and Danes were over¬ 
thrown, that very few escaped : Howell was slain, and 
prince Griffith victorious; but peace lasted not three 
months, but Ritherich and Rees, two of Jestins sons, 
made war upon Griffith, and after a cruel fight all day, 
the darke night parted them, that both armies returned 
with great losse to their homes. 

About this time there raigned in Scotland a bloudy 


3G 


A short Abbreviation of the History 

usurping tyrant, named Macbeth : liee caused a lord, 
one Banclio, to be murthered, whose son, named Fleance, 
escaped and fled into Wales, and was courteously en¬ 
tertained, with love and welcome to prince Griffith. 
Griffith had a bountifull daughter, with whom Fleance 
grew to be so familiar, that he got her with child ; for 
which the offended prince caused the head of Fleance 
to be strooke off, and in rage cast off his daughter, who 
was in short time delivered of a male child, named 
Walter. This Walter grew to be a tall goodly gentle¬ 
man, to whom few or scarce one was comparable for 
strength, feature, valour, agillity, and affability : and 
when one in derision called him bastard he killed him, 
and fled into Scotland, in the yeare 1052, and in the 
raign of Robert Bruise, king of Scots; then with which 
king the said Walter won such favour for some gallant 
services which he had done, that with love and honour 
he was made lord Stuart, or Steward, of Scotland, and 
receiver of the kings whole revenue ; and from that 
office did come the name of Steward, now called Stuart, 
of which sirname many kings, princes, lords, and gentle¬ 
men, have been and are descended. 

Griffith ap Ritherch ap Jestin made hot war against 
Griffith ap Lhewelyn, but Lhewelyn overcame and 
slew him, 1054; then he made an inrode into England, 
and with the ayd of Aigar earle of Chester, hee spoyled 
all Herefordshire, and burnt the city of Hereford to 
ashes, and returned with much spoyle. 


37 


and Chronicles of Wales. 

But in the conclusion the Danes were ay dec! by 
Harrolcl king of England, and assisted by some per¬ 
fidious Welsh lords, they entred Wales with great 
forces, at which time this noble prince Griffith ap 
Lhewelyn was treacherously murdered by his own 
men, and his head presented to Harrold king of Eng¬ 
land. Thus this gallant Griffith liv’d beloved, and 
cly’cl lamented, when hee had governed 34 years. 

Blethyn and Rywalhon were the sonnes of Conum, 
and brothers by the mothers side to Griffith ap Llewe¬ 
lyn : in the raign of these two, William, surnamed the 
Conquerour, came into England, anno 1066, and in 
1068, two sons of Griffith ap Lhewelyn did raise war 
against Blethyn and Rywalhon; their names were 
Meredith and Itliell; in these wars fortune play’d a 
game at crosse ruffe, for Ithell was slain on the one 
side, and Rywalhon on the other; Meredith fled, and 
Blethin was master of all Wales. Shortly after, the 
Normans spoyled Cardigan and a great part of West- 
Wales, and in the year 1073, Blethin was traiterously 
murdered by Rees ap Owen ap Edwin. This Blethin 
was the 18. prince, who left foure sons ; but for all 
that, Traherne his kinsman got the principalities of 
North-Wales, and was the 19. prince, at which time 
Rees ap Owen, with Ritherch ap Caradoc, had equall 
all South-Wales, but Ritherch was quickly murdered 
treacherously, and Rees then had all South-AVales, but 
Rees and another brother of his were both slain in hot 


38 A short Abbreviation of the History 

fight by Caradoc ap Griffith, and in anno 1087, Tra¬ 
herne was slaine by his cousins, of the line and race of 
Howell Dha. 

The 20. prince of North-Wales was Griffith, the son 
of Conan, and Rees ap Theodor had South-Wales, but 
Rees was mightily troubled in wars with some kinsmen 
of his, who in the end were all slain; then was St. 
Davids spoyled and burnt by rovers, and Rees was 
murdered at Brecknock by his own servants, ayded by 
some Normans : at that time, Robert Fitzharmaco, 
knight, and one of the gentlemen of the privy chamber 
to William Rufus, king of England, surprised the lord- 
ship of Glamorgan, which the English do hold yet; 
also, 12 commanders with him did likewise take por¬ 
tions of lands there : their names were : 

1. William de Londres, or London. 

2. Richard Granavilla, or Greenevelle, or Greenefield. 

3. Paganus de Tuberville. 

4. Robert de St. Quintin. 

5. Richard Sywarde. 

6. Gilbertus Humfrevell. 

7. Reginold de Beckrolls. 

8. Reinoldus de Swilly. 

9. Peter le Sorre. 

10. Johanes de Flemming. 

11. Oliverus St. John. 

12. John William de Esterling, now Stradling. 


39 


and Chronicles of Wales. 

After much trouble, many cruel fights, with great 
slaughters of and against Normans, English, Irish, 
Scots, and continuall war Avith South-Wales, and divers 
places more in Wales, this victorious prince dyed, much 
beloved and lamented for, when he had nobly ruled 
50. years, anno 1137. 

The 21 king was Chven Gwynneth, who was son to 
the last famous prince Griffith; he began with wars 
against South Wales, where the English had taken pos¬ 
session, with Flemmings, Normans, and others; he 
chased them aAvay, burnt and spoyled Caermarden, and 
returned victoriously to North-Wales, 1142. In the 
year 1143, se\ r en great lords, all of them of princely 
blood and pedigree, Avere slain in Wales. Also at this 
time the Irish did much spoyle, and in conclusion were 
spoyled by prince OAven; and near this time, HoavcII 
and Conan, Owens sons, gave the Normans and Flem¬ 
mings a bloudy discomfeture at Abertyvie, and re¬ 
turned to their hither Avith spoyle and honour; yet 
these Avars continued still; but the Flemmings and 
Normans Avere beaten tAvice more at the castles of 
Carmarden and Lhanstephan. From the yeare of 
Christ, 1138 to 1160 (being 32 years), AVales had not 
so much as six moneths peace and quietness. 

And then, before one yeare was expired, the princes 
of South-Wales quarrelled with prince Owen, and after 
some dangerous bickerings, OAven had the victory. In 
anno 1163, Henry the Second, king of England, made 


v 


40 


A short Abbreviation of the History 

a great preparations for war ; liee entree! South Wales 
as far as Brecknock, and returnd without any cause of 
triumphing. And in the year 1165, the said king 
Henry the Second came in person again, having in 
his army the stoutest of Englishmen, Normans, Gas- 
coigners, Flemmings, Guiencys, and some fugitive 
Welch; but prince Owen, joynecl with South-Wales 
and others, after much fighting and losse on both sides, 
king Henry returned without conquest, and fewer men 
then he brought forth. Also, the next year, 1167, the 
same king made a greater inrode into Wales, to as 
much purpose as he had done twice before. Also, pre¬ 
sently in the nick of these troubles, another army of 
Flemmings and Normans came to West-Wales, did 
much harm, and in the end returned with much loss. 

Then presently, to make the misery of Wales corn- 
pleat, the Welsh lords fell together by the ears one 
with another; and after a weary and troublesome 
raign of 32. yeares, the magnunimous prince Owen 
Guineth dyed, anno 1169. 

His son David succeeded the 22. prince, who was 
fain to fight for it, and kill his brother Howell, before 
he could attain the princedom. Then did Henry the 2. 
king of England enter South-Wales, took the town of 
Caerleon from the Lo Jorwath, and quite destroyed 
it: and in 1172, after a tedeous molestation, prince 
David ap Owen was expulst from his rule : and 

Lhewelyn ap Jorwath, being lawfull prince, took the 


41 


and Chronicles of Whiles. 

government, 1194, Richard the first of that name being 
then king of England. This prince had a quiet begin¬ 
ning in North-Wales, but South-Wales was much 
vexed ; for k. John of England, with David ap Owen, 
before named, who was deposed or expulsed, came 
with an army against prince Lhewelyn, who fought 
and beat k. John, and took David prisoner, and kept 
him fast; and the same yeare there was another bloudy 
battell fought between the English and the lords of 
South-Wales, and many men slain by the treachery of 
some Welsh lords, for private interests. 

For 12 yeares prince Lhewelyn had not one months 
quietness, yet he was still victorious. 

1211. K. John came into Wales with a mighty army, 
with a purpose to destroy all that had life; but he 
returned with great loss ; and the next year he came 
again, when (by reason that the English king had many 
Welsh lords to take his part) prince Lhewelyn ap 
Jorwath came to an agreement with k. John, and gave 
him 20000Z. and 40 horses : but covenants not being 
kept by occasion of the harsh dealing of the English 
nobles and their officers, made to the prince to raise an 
army, and take some castles and countries, for which 
k. John caused the gentlemen (which he had for 
pledges) to be all hang’d; and with another great 
army he came into AY ales again, to no purpose; for 
k. John had his hands and head full of troubles at 
home, with the pope and the French, that he was 

G 


V 


42 A short Abbreviation of the History 

forced to leave Wales and return, to his great grief 
and loss. 

In the yeare of grace 1314, there was great wars 
between the lords of South-Wales and Powis, Welsh 
against Welsh, and much mischiefe done on both sides : 
and anno 1215, prince Lhewelyn made an inrode into 
England, then hee wonne Shrewsbury, sack’d it, and 
returned into South-Wales; he took Caermarden from 
the English, raised the castle, and took 12. castles 
more, and returned home triumphant; shortly after, 
he subdued all Powis Land to his obedience, and in 
anno 1217, he brought all Wales to his subjection. He 
had not a weekes rest from the yeare 1218 to 1221, 
but either Welsh, English, Flemmings, or other trou¬ 
bles, kept him from idleness, and still it was his happi¬ 
ness to be victor. 

King John of England, being reconciled to the pope, 
the French expulst from thence, and the kingdome in 
quiet, the king (having little to do at home) would 
have the tother bout with AVales, which he attempted 
with much charge and bad success, and shortly after 
died; to whom his son Henry the 3. succeeded, who 
mad a speedy expedition against Lhewelyn, and re¬ 
turned home with much detriment, and peace was 
made for a small time; for in anno 1231, k. Henry 
made another great preparation against the prince, to 
the effect aforesaid. 

In 1232, Lhewelyn made an expedition into Eng- 


43 


and Chronicles of Wales. 

land, and returned with much riches and honour. In 
1233, South-Wales raised new wars; but the prince 
went in person and beat them into some quietness, 
overthrew their castles and strong holds, and returned 
renowned. 

And the same year, k. Henry the 3. came into 
Wales with a greater army than ever, compact of 
divers nations, with an intent to destroy all he could, 
but he was deceived in his purpose, and went home a 
loser : then k. Henry sent the arch bishop of Canter¬ 
bury, with the bishops of Rochester and Chester, to 
make a peace with Lhewelyn, but it could not be 
effected. 

Then this peerless prince died, beloved and lamented, 
and was buried at Conwy. He married Jone, the 
daughter of k. John, by whom he had two sons, David 
and Griffith ; this David kept his brother Griffith in 
prison all his raigne. The noble prince Lhewelyn ap 
Jorwath raigned 56 years, 

To whom David ap Lhewelyn succeeded, being the 
24. prince, anno 1240. This prince was cursed by the 
pope, and hated by the people for imprisoning his 
brother Griffith ; for which the k. of England came 
against him with an army, but a peace was made, and 
Griffith not releas’d, who striving to break prison and 
escape, by tying of lines and sheets, with such other 
stuff which he had, and as he gat out of a high window, 
he putting all his weight to the lines, they brake, and 


44 


A short Abbreviation of the History 

lie being fat and heavy, fell with his head downwards, 
where he lay a most pittifull dead spectacle, for his 
head and neck were beaten forcibly into his body. 

Then k. Henry the 3. (as his predecessors had often 
done) strived to have Wales under his obedience, to 
which purpose he in 1245. raised a mighty army, and 
was more mightily met and foyled by prince David; 
soone after David died, when he had ruled 5 years, 
1246. 

Lhewelyn ap Griffith, or the son of Griffith that 
dyed with a fall, was the 25. prince, for his unkle, 
prince David, had no issue ; this man was valiant, but 
unfortunate, for his two brethren, Owen and David, 
made war upon him, but he vanquisht them, and was 
master of all Wales; he strived much to shake off the 
yoke of England, and perforce liee chased all the Eng¬ 
lish out of Wales with great slaughter, 1256. King 
Henry the third with two great armies entred Wales 
in severall places, did much spoile, received much loss, 
and returned angry. 

In 1258, James, lord Audley, with Germane horse¬ 
men, did much spoile, and killed many in Wales, but 
in the end, the Welshmen gave them such welcome, 
that few of the Germanes return’d. In these times in 
all places in Wales was continuall strife, spoile and 
bloudshed ; for the English would have, and the Welsh 
would hold. In 1267, Lhewelyn entred England, 
spoyled and destroyed Chester, and much of that 


45 


and Chronicles of Wales. 

county; but after that, the Welsh had a great over¬ 
throw at a place called Clun, and in 1268, Henry of 
England with an army entred Wales again; but by 
the means of cardinall Ortobonus (the popes legate) a 
peace was made, and the prince paid to the k. of 
England 30000 marks. In anno 1272, king Henry 
the 3. died, and his son Edward the 1. went to Chester, 
from whence lie sent a summons to command prince 
Lhewelyn to come to him and doe homage : but the 
prince refused, and would not come to the king. Then 
two English armies entred South-Wales, and North- 
Wales, and West-Wales, at once ; but (upon hard con¬ 
ditions) a peace was concluded, which lasted not long ; 
for anno 1281, they fell to it cruelly again. The 
prince said, that it was a hard thing to live in war 
alwayes; but it was harder to live in continuall 
slavery : soon after, prince Lhewelyn was slaine vali¬ 
antly fighting, and all Wales fell to the crowne of 
England, after it had continued from Brute and Camber 
2418 years, to the year of Christ 1282. 


Kings Sons and Daughters of England , that have been 
Princes of Wales since 1282. 

1 Edward of Carnarvon, son to K. Ed. 1. 1289. 

2 Edward of Winsor, son to Edw. 2. 

3 Edw. of Woodstock, son to Edw. 3. or the Black 

Prince. 



46 A short Abbreviation of the History , etc. 

4 Richard of Burdeaux, son to the Black. 

5 Henry of Monmouth, son to Henry 4. 

6 Edw. of Westm. son to Henry 6. 

7 Edw. of Westm. son to Edw. 4. 

8 Edw. son to K. Ric. 3. at 10 year old instal’d P. 

9 Arthur, son to K. Henry 7. 

10 Henry H. of York, 2. son to H. 7. E. 6. son to H. 8. 

11 Mary, Princess of Wales, daughter, &c. 

12 Eliz. Princess. 

13 Henry. 

14 Charls, son to King James. 


FINIS. 


T. RICUARLS, 37 , CHEAT UCEEN STREET. 







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